Urinary Catheter Care

What is a urinary catheter?

A urinary catheter is a long, hollow, rubber drainage tube that is inserted into the body. It enters where you urinate and goes into the bladder. A small balloon is inflated at the tip of the tube once it is in your bladder. The balloon helps to keep the catheter in place. The other end of the tube is connected to a collection bag. The purpose of the catheter is to drain urine from the bladder. Your doctor will determine how long the urinary catheter will remain in place.

Why a urinary catheter?

The following are reasons your doctor may have asked that you have a urinary catheter:

If your doctors and nurses need to know exactly how much urine you are putting out to provide appropriate care for you

If you cannot completely empty your bladder when you urinate

If urine often leaks from your bladder that you cannot control, and you also have signs of a bladder infection or your kidneys are not working well

If you have open wounds or pressure sores around your genitals or buttocks that are frequently soiled with urine because you cannot control the flow of urine

If you have a severe illness or disability that makes moving or changing your clothes very painful

There may be other reasons you have your urinary catheter. Please talk with your doctor about why you need your catheter.

General instructions for care

You may shower with your catheter in place. Avoid extremely hot or cold water.

Twice per day and after each bowel movement, wash around the catheter where it enters your body. Use soap and water.

Avoid becoming constipated or straining with a bowel movement. It will help if you eat foods that are high in fiber and drink plenty of fluids.

Never pull on your catheter for any reason.

Only family members who have been taught how to help you with your catheter care should handle the drainage bag and equipment.

Return to your doctor on the following date to have your catheter removed:__________. Call your doctor’s office if you cannot keep this appointment.

Draining the leg bag

A leg bag is a urine collection bag that is strapped to your leg. It is smaller than the bag that you may use at night. This smaller bag allows you to move around more easily. However, you must empty the leg bag every 3 to 4 hours. To drain the bag, follow these steps:

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Unfasten the lower leg strap.

Remove the cap and open the clamp. Do not touch the drain port with your fingers or allow it to touch the urine measuring container or toilet seat.

If you are supposed to measure the urine, drain it into a container that is being used only for this purpose. Measure the amount of urine, record it, then empty the urine into the toilet. If you do not need to measure, simply drain the urine into the toilet.

After the urine has drained completely, wipe the drain port and the cap with a cotton ball or gauze soaked with an antiseptic solution such as rubbing alcohol or povidine iodine (such as betadine). Close the clamp and fasten the lower leg strap.

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Draining the larger collection bag

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Release the green tubing from the plastic holder by squeezing the metal clamp. See figure 1 below.

If you are supposed to measure the urine, drain it into a container that is being used only for this purpose. Measure the amount of urine, record it, and then empty the urine into the toilet, taking care that the tube does not touch the toilet. See figure 2 below.

After the urine has drained completely, squeeze the metal clamp until you feel it click shut. Wipe the tip of the green tubing with a cotton ball or gauze soaked with an antiseptic solution such as rubbing alcohol or povidine iodine (such as Betadine). See figure 3 below.

Return the green tubing to the holder.

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

How to care for your drainage bags

Follow these directions to care for either your leg bag or your night drainage bag:

After disconnecting the bag and replacing it with another, wash the used bag with soap and warm water. Then rinse with water.

Disinfect the used bag with a mixture of white (distilled) vinegar and water. Do not use yellow (cider) vinegar. > Mix 1 1/4 cups of white vinegar with 2 quarts of water. > Rinse the bag well with this solution to help reduce urine odor. Do not rinse the bag with water after using the vinegar solution.

Wash your hands with soap and water. Special note: You may use both types of drainage bags for up to 1 month. After 1 month, you will need new bags. You can buy new bags at most home health care supply stores.

Changing collection bags

During the day, you may want to use a leg bag. At night, you can change it to a larger collection bag.

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Drain the leg bag.

Unfasten the leg straps.

Clean the connection site with a cotton ball soaked in an antiseptic solution such as rubbing alcohol or povidine iodine solution (betadine).

Disconnect the leg bag, cap the opening, and set aside.

Attach the end of the new bag.

If you are attaching the larger collection bag for overnight use, hang the bag lower than your body when you are in bed.

If you are attaching the leg bag, wrap the elastic bands around your leg and clip them in place. Always be sure there are no kinks in the catheter tubing.

Follow the directions under “How to care for your drainage bags.”

Wash your hands with soap and water when you are finished.

Getting ready for bed

When your night drainage bag is connected and you are ready to go to bed, decide on which side of the bed you want the drainage bag to hang. Tape the drainage tubing to the thigh of the leg that will be next to the side of the bed where the bag will hang. Use hypoallergenic (HI-po-al-er-JEN-ik) tape, which is available at most drug stores and supermarkets. Leave some slack in the line so you will not pull on the catheter when you move while sleeping.

If you are a man, tape the drainage tubing to the inner thigh, opposite the tip of your penis(see picture).

If you are a woman, tape the drainage tubing to the inner thigh below the vaginal areas (see picture).

When you get into bed, set up the drainage tubing so it does not kink or loop. Then hang the drainage bag by its hook from the side of the bed frame. Be sure to keep the drainage bag below the level of the bladder at all times, whether you are lying, sitting, or standing. Do not hang the bag from the headboard or footboard of the bed, or from a chair beside the bed.

When to call your doctor

Urinary catheters may cause infections in the bladder and kidneys of men and women. In men, they may cause infection in the genital tract. Catheters also may cause bladder stones. Catheters may irritate the lining and underlying tissues of the tube through which urine flows out of the bladder (urethra). This irritation may cause open wounds of those tissues.

Call your doctor or nurse if any of the following occurs:

Little or no urine flows into the bag over a period of 4 hours

Little or no urine flows into the bag over a couple of hours, and you feel like your bladder is full

Lower abdominal pain and/or pain in your pelvis

Pain at the insertion site

Urine has changed in color or consistency, or there is blood in the urine

Drainage comes from the catheter insertion site that looks like pus or has a foul odor

For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.

Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.

For UPMC Mercy Patients: As a Catholic hospital, UPMC Mercy abides by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, as determined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. As such, UPMC Mercy neither endorses nor provides medical practices and/or procedures that contradict the moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.